Yes, it is possible! And so d@$% empowering! But it can mean different things to different moms. Obviously I can’t, and won’t, speak for anyone but myself. I will not sugar coat anything, or pitch some toxic positivity BS. So read on if you want to know what being successful means to me.
Stable Career
No, I’m not under a rock. I know the condition of the US economy and the global one at the moment. But! That doesn’t mean I just threw myself into any career or stayed in a stagnant one. I needed to take an honest look at where I was and where I wanted to go. I’m a Data Analyst. Not only are my skills in high demand, I do the job very very well. And I am always, ALWAYS, looking for the better opportunity. After all, company loyalty is dead.
Stable Income
Again, no I am not under a rock. This means multiple income streams. Are they big? No. Am I super confident in my finance planning? Nope. Am I taking the time to learn? Yes. As a single mom we have A LOT to plan and prepare for. Doing more with less is how we live, until we can get to the “I just hired an Au Pair” level of stability. I need to have patience and perseverance with this, but I also need to stay dedicated to it. As the years roll on, my income streams fluctuate, but they still provide me with the cushion I need to keep my stress levels down. (Seriously, I am so relived that I have CDs and High Yield Savings Accounts now!!)
Stable Health
Yeah, I mean mental health and no it is not optional. I am a lucky lucky American (currently) in that my marketplace coverage insurance allows me to go to therapy with just a $20 co-pay. I wasn’t always in this position. Which meant I needed to find out how to navigate getting the care I needed. I have a few pieces of workout equipment at home. It is such a grind, but I also put in the effort to meal prep and track my fasting periods. Your health dictates your and your child(ren)’s future. Make it a priority!
Stable Home
Guess what? To me, this doesn’t mean planting roots in some suburban neighborhood in the USA. Nope! It means safety and happiness for both me and my kiddo. I needed to come to terms with the fact that this is not going to happen in the USA. Which changed my entire life trajectory, or so I thought. Really, it was me just going back (way back) to my original dreams before dating, marrying, pregnancy, and motherhood. So I plan to move a bit over the next few years. So what? As long as kiddo is happy, healthy, and receiving an awesome education that is GREAT! I am not forgetting myself. I will be nervous but happy too.
What put it all together for me though? I sat down and just demolished all the walls and pressures that were keeping in my stagnant and unsatisfying life.
Don’t worry, I’m not selling you anything! Here are a few resources that can help you do that. This one was written by a woman with a PhD. Here is a nice Wiki article with graphics. And if you prefer audio/video, try this short but awesome message from the Mindset Fairy.
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